MANILA | PHILIPPINES - Team Dompet Dhuafa (DD) was present and provided humanitarian assistance to earthquake victims in Cotabato Province, Mindanao, Philippines. At least 22 people were declared dead and more than 35 thousand victims were still displaced due to the disaster.
Until recently Tim Dompet Dhuafa recorded as the first foreign humanitarian organization (NGO / NGO) to enter the earthquake area to provide humanitarian assistance, including planning the construction of temporary shelters for victims who lost their homes. The DD team led by Herdiansah has been in Mindanao since Monday (4/11/2019). They brought assistance, among others in the form of logistics, water sanitation, health, and disaster trauma therapy.
The DD team is stationed at one of the evacuation centers, namely the Makilala area, Northern Mindanao. There are around 200 families who fled here. Herdiansah who is the Director of Construction Dompet Dhuafa said that his team is also preparing to establish temporary shelters for the families of disaster victims.
According to Herdiansah, the Mindanao earthquake was classified as a major disaster and caused many victims, but there was little news and assistance. "DD is the only Indonesian NGO and the UN who came first to help," he said.
An earthquake measuring 6,6 on the Richter scale on Tuesday (October 29, 2019) rocked the southern region of the Mindanao Islands, Philippines. The earthquake occurred precisely at 09:04 am local time.
“The earthquake shaking was very strong. We immediately ran out of the house. I look at my houses and shops like people dancing. Until now my knees are still shaking, ”said Abi Agduma, a shopkeeper on the Mindanao Islands, as quoted by the Reuters news agency.
Local media reported that a number of electrical cables in the city of Davao were swaying when the earthquake struck, people scattering into open spaces. Some people fainted in fear. The earthquake has also triggered a power cut near the city of General Santos.
"The checks are ongoing and disaster management officers are checking roads and bridges," said Sara Duterte, the mayor of Davao City who is also the daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
As of last Monday, 4.800 families or 24.000 people took shelter in 34 evacuation centers in the Davao and Soccsksargen regions, said the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC). There are 1.493 families or 7.645 people living outside the evacuation center, such as the houses of their relatives. [DDHKNews]
News source: znews.id
